Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎3v] (6/176)

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THE LIABILITY OF THE SUEZ 'CANAL TO BLOCKING ATTACK.
Index.
Section Subject. Page
I. —Strategical importance of the Suez Canal to the British Empire,
and the ease with which this delicate link can be severed in
the event of a war with Japan becoming possible... ... 5
II.—Requirements to secure an effective block ... ... ••• ^
III. —Consideration of the requirements necessary to secure an effective
block as outlined in Section II —
(«.) The arrangements should be such as will ensure the
ship being sunk at the correct time ... ... <
(b.) The ship should be scuttled at a place where the
sides and bottom are rocky ... v . . **• ^
(c.) The pilot would have to be overpowered, intimidated
or suborned ... ... ... ••• ^
(d.) The ship should be manoeuvred correctly at the last
moment, otherwise the block may be only partial 9
(e.) The blockship should be fitted with some means by
which she can be rapidly scuttled ... ... 9
(/.) The scuttling of the ship should be controlled by
the captain from the bridge... ... ... 9
(g.) The blockship should be partially loaded with some
heavy cargo, such as stone, cement, ore, railway
iron, &c ... ... ••• ••• 9
IV. —Possible courses of action open to Japan ... ... ••• 10
V. —Blocking of the Canal by the sinking of a merchant ship ... 11
VI. —Laying of mines from a merchant ship ... ... ... H
VII. —Surreptitious laying of mines transported to the Canal by land... 11
VIII.—Placing a considerable force, including guns, on the banks, and
sinking any vessel attempting to pass ... ... ... 12
IX.—Sniping at a passing vessel, killing the helmsman, and causing
her to run ashore ... ... ... ••• ••• 12
X.—Sinking one of the large Canal dredgers ... ... ... 12
XL—The effect of blocking the Canal on British Imperial strategy ... 12
XII.—The effect of blocking the Canal on Imperial trade ... ... 16
XIII. —Great Britain’s obligation to preserve the neutrality of the Canal,
and to intervene to prevent violation of its neutrality ... 17
XIV. —The attitude of the Suez Canal Company and its effect on the
passage of a large Fleet through the Canal in the event of
a war with Japan ... ... ... ••• ••• 18
XV.—Conclusions ... ... ... ••• ••• ••• 20
APPENDICES.
I.—Extract from C.I.D. 98-B of February 12, 1907. Note by the
Secretary to the CM D. on “ The Position of the Suez Canal
“in Time of War ” ... ... ... ... ... 22
II. —Extract from C.I.D. 115-B of June 2,1910. Note by the Foreign
Office on Great Britain’s obligation to preserve the neutrality
of the Canal ... ... ... ... ... 22
HI.—Foreign Office Memorandum on the Suez Canal Convention of
1888, dated July 1, 1922 .. ... ... ... 23
IV.—Projected improvements in the Suez Canal ... ... ... 25
V.—Approximate amounts ships would require lightening from deep
load to enable them to pass through the Suez Canal ... 26
VI. —Mining of steamship “Teiresias” at the southern end of the Little
Bitter Lake on June 30, 1915... ... ... ... 26
VII. —Precautions taken from 1915 to 1918 to minimise the risk of the
Canal being mined or blocked... ... ... ... 27
VIII. —Orders for Canal Defence Flotilla, 1916 ... ... ... 27
IX.—Suez Canal: Shipping statistics ... ... ... ... 29